Developer Yoshihisa Kishimoto, Creator of Double Dragon Franchise, Passes Away at 64

Key Takeaways

Created with AI - we're still experimenting, so apologies if it misses the mark

Yoshihisa Kishimoto, the creator of iconic franchises like Double Dragon and Kunio-kun, passed away on April 2, 2024 at the age of 64.
Throughout his career, Kishimoto worked on several popular arcade games such as Cobra Command, Thunder Storm, Road Blaster, China Gate, WWF Superstars, WWF Wrestlefest, and The Combatribes.
One of his most significant contributions was creating the Nekketsu Koha Kunio-kun game, which was localized as Renegade in the West and based on his personal experiences as a student.
In 1987, he created the Double Dragon franchise, one of the most recognized beat em up titles worldwide, leading to numerous sequels, comics, and a film adaptation. After leaving Technos, Kishimoto worked as a freelancer under the pseudonym Plophet and eventually founded Plophet Co., Ltd. in 2010.

Recommended products

This page contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, we earn a commission from purchases made through these links.

INSO Body-kun Action Figure Set, Action Figure Models for Artists, 5.9 Inch (Skin)

$17.99

-5%

Action Figures Body-Kun DX & Body-Chan DX PVC Figure Model Drawing for S H Figuarts with Box for Artists (Gray, Female)

$18.99$17.99

-10%

Action Figures Body-Kun DX & Body-Chan DX PVC Figure Model Drawing for S H Figuarts with Box for Artists (Black, Male)

$19.99$17.99

EG STARTS Arcade Buttons 1 Player DIY Kit Joystick 5V LED Arcade Button for Arcade Stick PC Games Mame Raspberry pi

$25.99

Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics - PlayStation PS4

$19.93

-6%

Merchant Ambassador: Classic Games, 100 Games, Enjoy 100 Different Games, Includes 5 Double-Sided Playing Boards, Fun for Children and Adults, For Ages 3 and up

$17.99$16.99

Yoshihisa Kishimoto, the creator of the Double Dragon and Kunio-kun franchises, passed away on April 2 at the age of 64. His son, Ryubo Kishimoto, confirmed the news on Facebook; the cause of death was not disclosed. The family also announced a private funeral via a Google post. Ryubo Kishimoto stated (via Time Extension), “I regret to inform you that my father passed away on April 2, 2024. I am profoundly grateful for all the kindness and support he received during his life. We will hold a private family funeral.” He also expressed gratitude to fans of Double Dragon and Kunio-kun, promising to convey their messages to his father. “I hope you continue to appreciate my father’s works, including Kunio-kun,” he added.

Yoshihisa Kishimoto: Pioneer of Arcade Gaming and Beat ’em Up Genre, Creator of Double Dragon and Kunio-kun Franchises

Born on September 17, 1961, Yoshihisa Kishimoto began his career in the early 1980s at Data East, where he worked on laserdisc arcade games such as Cobra Command, Thunder Storm, and Road Blaster. He then joined Technos Japan, where he created arcade hits like China Gate (1988), WWF Superstars (1989), WWF Wrestlefest (1991), and The Combatribes (1992). At Technos, he also created Nekketsu Koha Kunio-kun, localized as Renegade in the West, basing the game on his personal experiences as a student. In 1987, he created the Double Dragon franchise, which became one of the most recognized beat ’em up titles worldwide, leading to numerous sequels, comics, and a film adaptation. After leaving Technos, Kishimoto worked as a freelancer under the pseudonym Plophet and eventually founded Plophet Co., Ltd. in 2010. He served as a creative consultant for Double Dragon Neon in 2012. (Source: Terra Games.) Fans worldwide will remember Kishimoto’s contributions to arcade gaming and the beat ’em up genre.

In Case You Missed It

In our previous post exploring gaming lore and ancient fan theories, we couldn’t help but share the latest buzz from Ahmed Hassan over at Players for Life. Firstly, in his March 24th article “Rumor: Super Mario Galaxy to Confirm Ancient Fan Theory”, Hassan delves into BBFC’s rating documentation hinting that Princess Peach and Rosalina might indeed be sisters, a revelation that could finally put an end to years of speculation amongst Mario enthusiasts Rumor: Super Mario Galaxy to Confirm Ancient Fan Theory. Then, in his recent piece “AAA Games Have Become Too Expensive to Produce” published on March 26th, Hassan explores the escalating production costs for popular AAA blockbusters, revealing that some projects are now exceeding $300 million, with salaries for developers being the primary driver behind these astronomical budgets AAA Games Have Became Too Expensive to Produce. And if you’re eager to know what’s in store for your favorite games and their pricing, our friends at Players For Life have also caught up with Jonathan Dubinski’s insightful piece, “Nintendo Switch 2 Will Get Major Blockbuster Titles in 2026”, published on March 28th. Citing reliable sources like NateTheHate and VGC, Dubinski reveals that the highly anticipated Nintendo Switch 2 is set to launch with a bang, featuring major titles such as Star Fox and The Legend of Zelda Nintendo Switch 2 Will Get Major Blockbuster Titles in 2026, Says NateTheHate.